So I was thinking that I've been a giant lazy ass for several years I am suddenly feeling motivated to get back into shape.

I currently own a low end mountain bike but I seldom go (once this year, zero last year) riding. Partially because I have no one to go with, but more so because it involves loading up the bike and driving for 25 minutes to get to the trail.

I have been thinking to myself for the past few weeks that I need to get active again, and had been toying with the idea of trying a triathlon. A couple of days ago I mentioned something to my wife about it and she pretty much laughed at me saying "haha, why don't you just try a 5k first..." Well I don't particularly like running on its own, but if you add swimming and a bike ride into it you might be able to trick me long enough to do it... Besides now I have to do it just to make her eat her words.

So the next day I went on a 7 mile bike ride on my MTB which was a good workout, but I felt like I wasn't going anywhere, busting my ass to average 13 MPH ( I do have clipless pedals which helps). I felt good, and it seems like something I can get into expecially since I live in an area with GREAT road bike routes just out of my driveway.

So fast forward to today. I stop at a local bike shop to look into road bikes... Holy crap they are expensive. I rode a fuji and a cannondale an I liked the fuji much better. The Fuji was a full carbon (all tiagra components) vs the carbon fork cannondale (all sora) and retailed for $1399 but I could get it for $1000. Seems like a good deal, rode like butter compared to the cannondale, but compared to my $400 MTB its a large investment. My fear is I am getting too good a bike for my first road bike, but on the other hand, I don't want to get something I'm going to hate especially if I ever get up to 50-75 miles per week.

So long story short, I'm going to get rid of my MTB I don't use, selling my reloading press and a honda elite I have to get into a road bike (Yes I'm a cheap ass and I would like to do very little out of pocket). It just seems like its a lot of cash for something I can't ride 3-4 months out of the year.

Has anyone been down this road before? Any tips as I start along this journey?

I should add that the used bike market is like the jeep market and everyone thinks their junk is made of gold....

You can ride a road bike year round, you just need a trainer for the winter. Then you can ride your bike while watching tv or something in the winter, better exercise than most people get in the winter months.

I also suggest riding more bikes than just 2. Geometry is different for most bike brands, and often the components make the bike feel better, when the geometry is actually slightly off for your size body.

Grand Rapids has tons of bike shops, with a few of them being actually pretty good, so you can shop most bike brands without leaving town.

Hi. I smoke cigarettes and drink whiskey. If you do that triathlon you will die before me.
Fuck the bike. If you cant run a 5k or swim 5000 yards non stop without being all fucked up you are going to die if you attempt a (mini) triathlon. To even finish a triathlon you need to be in running and swimming shape. The biking portion of these local triathlons are a joke.
I have done a triathlons many, many years ago.
Pop goes your bubble....sorry

Oh and if you do this triathlon during the swimming portion toss the goggles. You will get kicked in the face like no tomorrow.
Reach stroke, kick in the face, reach stroke, kick in the face, if you feel and ankle.....grab it! Pull! Reach stroke, reach stroke, pull!

Hi. I smoke cigarettes and drink whiskey. If you do that triathlon you will die before me.
Fuck the bike. If you cant run a 5k or swim 5000 yards non stop without being all fucked up you are going to die if you attempt a (mini) triathlon. To even finish a triathlon you need to be in running and swimming shape. The biking portion of these local triathlons are a joke.
I have done a triathlons many, many years ago.
Pop goes your bubble....sorry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Immortal

Oh and if you do this triathlon during the swimming portion toss the goggles. You will get kicked in the face like no tomorrow.
Reach stroke, kick in the face, reach stroke, kick in the face, if you feel and ankle.....grab it! Pull! Reach stroke, reach stroke, pull!

Im looking long term.... no way am I going to start out with a tri. I am thinking a year or so out for that goal.

I set high goals, but I'm not unrealistic on what I need to do in order to get there.

I picked up a used specialized Allez on Craigslist. It stays on my trainer almost all year round. Just like most other things if you spend the money you are going to get better things, it seems to be very true with road bikes though. Like stated above I would ride several bike before you buy. It will be worth it.

If you are looking long term then don't buy either of those bikes. Tiagra and Sora aren't good group sets. Look into minimum 105 if you go shimano, most of the SRAM groupo's are going to be as good or better than the 105 and above levels so look for those.

Before you drop a ton of money on a bike you won't use it may be wise to throw some street tires on your mountain bike and ride that for a while. Go find a nice bike in the 1500-2000 range or higher and use that as motivation to ride harder and longer. Cannondales are nice, Treks are good and so are Specialized. Lots of really good stuff out there now but some crap too. Usually the smaller mom and pop stores will be of better service and can get you into a better bike for a better price than the big box stores like American Cycle and Fitness or Performance Cycle type deals.

Most important though is fit. If it doesn't fit right you will hate it.

I will say carbon fiber is sweetest thing ever. I have a cannondale aluminum frame and built a Specialized S-Works Tarmac with SRAM Force group and the power transfer is so much better, head and shoulders better but the ride is stiffer than the cannondale. It all comes down to how they lay up the carbon, but if you put enough power into the pedals your ass won't be bearing the brunt of your weight so you won't notice as much.

I've done triathlons for years, if that is your goal than get the best bike in your budget. You need at least the shimano 105's. Check out Beginner Triathlete. It's been instrumental in my success. The info, reviews and programs are top notch.

The most important thing with your bike will be a correct fitting after the purchase. Not every bike shop will know how to set up a tri-bike properly. Even more so if you get a road bike and want to convert it into a tri-bike (works well.)

As far as racing and distance I say you shoot for an Olympic rather than sprint distance to begin with. Train this winter, race next summer and enjoy!!

Consider a cyclocross bike. If you're going to have only 1 bike, it's a perfect one to have. I don't have input on brands, though, as I ride "niche-y" steel bikes from small frame builders.

Craig

X2, cyclocross would be great for you. I used to ride mine on all the mtb trails and dirt roads. They are also nice for winter training. I am old school like Craig when it comes to bikes. I love steel frames and the lively feel they have. If you are buying used and want somebody to check it out for you give me a call. I used to work at a shop and I raced for quite a while.

There is alot of Good advice here. I would 2nd the notion to train this winter. A trainer can get boring but the winters I've used one I've noticed a huge difference in my speed and endurance in the spring. I'd also suggest, as someone already did, get some skinny tires for your MTB first. If anything, That can help you train for when you get your Cyclo or road bike. I used to ride my MTB bike with it's skinny tires intill about 2 weeks before an event. Then I'd switch to my road bike and get some practice on it.

Raleigh is a good brand as well. I had a frame crack on the fork race during a tour almost a year after I bought the bike. I took it to the LBS (Adventure cycle and sport in Lapeer) and the company replaced it no charge. I still have that bike and ride it every summer. That was 11 years ago.

If you are going to ride on the road be smart. It's your legal right but there are idiots (like Steveo) who think you don't belong there. Ride with Traffic, keep to the right and try and hinder traffic as little as possible.

If you are much north of 35 and out of shape, sell everything and buy a pre pay funeral, you'll get a better return on investment.

You are talking about training for a year to do a triathlon, something that real competitors have trained for since they could run without falling on their face.

Take your wife's advice, do a 5k, go to the gym to work off the blubber, and in maybe 3 years you can attempt the tri.

Trust me, I got all geeked about getting back in shape a couple years ago and thought I was having a coronary. I was doing ok doing 5 to 10 mile walks 5 times a week, but then my job got in the way of that. So now I feel fortunate if the hotel's treadmill is still operational. I'm back up to 245lbs again and pissed about it.